# You won the lottery. Do you give your employers 2 weeks' notice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685 "2015-10-06T03:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/81 "2015-10-07T02:04:13Z")
A lot depends on when I win it. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/82 "2015-10-07T02:30:14Z")
Non-hypothetical. I had an officer I worked with in the Air Force. An uncle died and left him several million dollars. He did not quit the Air Force. If I won the lottery, I’d just turn in my retirement papers and wait for it to process, take my final leave and sick days, then be gone. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/83 "2015-10-07T02:56:51Z")
I think it was the late Mitch Hedberg who offered up this line to his boss: “In two weeks, you’re gonna notice I haven’t been here for two weeks.” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/84 "2015-10-07T03:43:07Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > Non-hypothetical. > > I had an officer I worked with in the Air Force. An uncle died and left him several million dollars. He did not quit the Air Force. Would he have been allowed to quit the USAF abruptly? ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/85 "2015-10-07T05:06:01Z")
I’ve thought about this and I honestly don’t know. I would like to think I would give an “as long as it takes” notice with the caveat that I’m there at my leisure during that time, but with that bucket of money and so many places to see, it would be tempting to “peace out” at any given moment, and I might do just that. I appreciate the job that I have, my employer who makes it possible, and I even like most of my coworkers. But ultimately, I work for money. No need for income means no need for a job. I have enough to tide me over for 6-8 weeks easily, so I think I would refuse salary the day my ticket was validated by the lottery commission and basically become a volunteer immediately. My employer could then either thank me and take me up on my generous offer or tell me to fuck off, but that would be their decision. In any case, “as long as it takes” would probably not be more than two months. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/86 "2015-10-07T08:31:46Z")
The Air Force officer likely had to sit down several times with investigators to check that he had not been selling secrets. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/87 "2015-10-07T12:49:08Z")
I’d give 2 weeks notice, but would probably spend most of it planning my next vacation. A question for those of you who say you’d keep working - do you love your job every single moment? Every day? Every week? I like my job too, but there are certainly periods when it’s a gigantic pain in the ass. I honestly think I’d find it really, really hard to put in the effort then, knowing I could just hop on a plane to the Carribean or Hawaii and relax for a week. And as soon as that starts happening, I’d assume I’d get let go, just like any other employee who gets a reputation for not being willing to go the extra mile. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/88 "2015-10-07T14:10:56Z")
I like my job and I function better with structure. Also, I’m pretty good at what I do, and it’s a fundamentally useful job, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. Once I had everything in place, I could see ratcheting back to a lighter weekly schedule with a lot more vacation time. And I would go to ALL the Conferences! Hahahahahaha! **muldoonthief** , 90% of the time I don’t love it. Sometimes it’s dull and sometimes it makes me very angry. Generally I do like it, though. Also, it seems to me that the more choice one has in the matter, the less stressful the overall experience becomes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/89 "2015-10-07T14:26:25Z")
I don’t love every moment of my job, but if I walked out at the first moment I didn’t love, then I’d be missing out on all the moments I do love, too. Most jobs, they’re not going to let you just come back after the bad moment is over. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/90 "2015-10-07T14:30:52Z")
I have about 6 months sick leave accrued, so no. I’d just let that tick away until the check clears, then tell them I’m gone for good. But I’d lessen the blow to my debate team by providing them all with full ride scholarships to college. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/91 "2015-10-07T14:35:48Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > I like my job and I function better with structure. Also, I’m pretty good at what I do, and it’s a fundamentally useful job, which gives me a lot of satisfaction. Once I had everything in place, I could see ratcheting back to a lighter weekly schedule with a lot more vacation time. And I would go to ALL the Conferences! Hahahahahaha! > > **muldoonthief** , 90% of the time I don’t love it. Sometimes it’s dull and sometimes it makes me very angry. Generally I do like it, though. Also, it seems to me that the more choice one has in the matter, the less stressful the overall experience becomes. Sure, but how much choice do you really have? You’re assuming your boss will be fine with you ratcheting back to a lighter schedule. But at some point, he may decide “I can’t rely on **Bonden** enough to give him anything crucial to do. He’s only here 20 hrs/week, calls out frequently, and wants to take a spot at all the conferences. It’s not worth the effort of keeping him around any more.” ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/92 "2015-10-07T14:49:42Z")
I’d get the cash in hand, then use up my personal and sick days, then give notice. My employer is required to pay out accrued vacation but once you give notice you forfeit all accrued personal days and sick time. I’d probably give 2 weeks and they might negotiate for more or less depending on what they think they need. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/93 "2015-10-07T15:27:22Z")
Nope. Might give it some time\* before I cash in, but the moment I do, I’d only come in long enough to turn in my hardware, clean out some things in my desk that I want (meds being one) and walk out laughing. - The Powerball and Megamillions allow the participating states two weeks to collect the money to pay you. You walk in the day after the drawing, you wait 2 weeks for the money. You walk in after that two weeks are over and the money will be in your account the next day after claiming it. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/94 "2015-10-07T15:38:34Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Sure, but how much choice do you really have? You’re assuming your boss will be fine with you ratcheting back to a lighter schedule. But at some point, he may decide “I can’t rely on **Bonden** enough to give him anything crucial to do. He’s only here 20 hrs/week, calls out frequently, and wants to take a spot at all the conferences. It’s not worth the effort of keeping him around any more.” Well, my point about the conferences is that I’d be paying (and doing it on my own time), so my company would love that. Their name still shows up on my badge. If I became undependable, I think it would be fair for the company to let me go. I think I’m a pretty dependable person. There’s a financial advantage to my company keeping a person around at my level p/t. My overhead would be lower but they would still bill me out at my same rates. At this point in my career, fortunately, I’m pretty employable. If my company let me go, there’s a bunch of other companies (and clients) on my dance card. Now, if I were /already/ a multimillionaire, my job hunt would be a bit less. . .motivated. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/95 "2015-10-07T15:47:03Z")
I’m responsible for computer support and writing database reports. I wouldn’t leave my employer in a bind. I’d give two weeks notice. Maybe 4 weeks to give time for me to train my replacement. I’d only want to work half days if I gave 4 weeks notice. Use up some of my accrued vacation time. ---
**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/96 "2015-10-07T15:50:53Z")
No, I’d first put in for my vacation, starting immediately. Then, when there were only two weeks left, I’d call to give my notice. ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/97 "2015-10-07T15:52:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I think it was the late Mitch Hedberg who offered up this line to his boss: > > “In two weeks, you’re gonna notice I haven’t been here for two weeks.” Wanda Sykes had a good bit about this as well: “They wanted me to play a maid, who won the lottery… but liked the family she worked for sooo much, that she kept working for them. Are they crazy? Shoot, If I found out I won the lottery, I would leave in the middle of this joke!” ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/98 "2015-10-07T15:58:24Z")
I’m curious about those who are saying they’d give two weeks notice and train their replacement: between posting the job, interviewing multiple candidates multiple times and vetting/background checking the preferred candidate, it would be extremely optimistic to say your replacement would be sitting at your desk in fewer than 6-8 weeks. You’re willing to give The Man that time when you have 100 million sitting in your back pocket? ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/99 "2015-10-07T16:14:08Z")
> [@MoonMoon](#): > > I’m curious about those who are saying they’d give two weeks notice and train their replacement: between posting the job, interviewing multiple candidates multiple times and vetting/background checking the preferred candidate, it would be extremely optimistic to say your replacement would be sitting at your desk in fewer than 6-8 weeks. You’re willing to give The Man that time when you have 100 million sitting in your back pocket? In many cases I expect this would be more along the lines of training someone else who’s already working there about the specifics of your job duties, so that they can take over for you at least on an interim basis. This could vary a lot from job to job, of course. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685/100 "2015-10-07T16:18:54Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m curious about those who are saying they’d give two weeks notice and train their replacement: between posting the job, interviewing multiple candidates multiple times and vetting/background checking the preferred candidate, it would be extremely optimistic to say your replacement would be sitting at your desk in fewer than 6-8 weeks. You’re willing to give The Man that time when you have 100 million sitting in your back pocket? My field is very esoteric, and there are not many of us at my level. My replacement would not be coming from the outside. If there was a tech out there that would fit in, we would have already hired them. What would likely happen is that we would move a current employee into the spot, and I would spend a month getting him up to speed at the client site for which I am responsible. This would probably cause a chain reaction through the company, and they would end up hiring an entry level employee to start at the bottom. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-won-the-lottery-do-you-give-your-employers-2-weeks-notice/733685.md?page=6)